The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
THE w HEN
MRS. CARLISLE ON WASHINGTON SOCIETY
A Trifle More Intellectual, but Not Much
Change Within Ten Years.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK March 26-"Changes in the tone
of Washington societyY" said Mrs. Speaker Car
sle, she sat in the parlor Of the Gilsey House.
Mrs Carlisle is pleasant looking lady, who. IN
her youth, handsome but her face begins
to bear the marks of years, ill-health, the anx-
iety of political and the strain of social fe She
is well-formed, unusually tall, and has a small,
finely shaped head, crowned by light reddish
brown hair, and her voice is thar unusual thing
among American women, low-toned and pleas
ant. Really" she went on, II do not think
there has been much change during tho ten
years I have lived there. The personnel of 80
ciety changes more or less every four years, and
slightly every two years. And. of course, the
incoming of Democratic administration made
a decided difference among the people who are
in the front But don't think there has been
much change in the tone and purpose of society
there since have known it."
Then you do not think it has acquired little
more literary or intellectual flavor in the last
few yearsf'
YES believe it has turned little more in
that direction during the last year. But have
been out of society entirely this winter on ac-
count Of my health, and so cannot speak deci-
sively on that point
What do you think has been the causei'
"Oh, there hasn't been any immediate cause.
| People just got tired of the old ruts and turned
| to literary matters for something new. Another
respect in which the personnel OF Washington
society is changing is that so many society peo
| pie from other cities 60 there now to spend the
winter. This element has grown quite large
| and ia increasing But they simply fall IN with
l
| attempt to change its general character"
| 'People who have never lived in Washington
| generally think there is less in its society life
/ than in that of any other city in the country"
"And my opinion is that they are about right.
| and Mrs. Carlisle laughed pleasantly 'Ofcourse
| those who live there long time form many
| warm friendships, but society is SO large and So
cial duties are so many that there isn't time for
much else The returning of calls alone is q
large tax upon ones time. Last year, for in
| stance, made 1.500 visits"
| "Isnt it very wearingP
| mo. All that is necessary is to remem Der the
reception days OF different ladies' look in and say
| How do you dor and Goodbye! That is al
| that is expected"
''Do you think that this increase of the socia
circle of which you speak will cause its breaking
up into different sets?"
| ''Yes, / think it will. The lines have alway.
| been drawn pretty closely between the citizens
| and the officials. The citizens the represent
| atives Of the old Southern families. and the,
| mngle but very little in official society. Occa
| sionally family of the citizens selects two O
| three families from the official set visits then
| and receives them into the citizens circle Blu
generally the lines kept close"
"And each set thinks itself q little better thar
the otherl"
mo, hardly think so. On the contrary, tn
officials think it quite compliment as the,
we'll may, when they received by the citi
zens But official society is getting so large an,
unwiedy that think it will undoubtedly b.
broken up irto sets before long The Cabine
ladies have heretofore made visits, but now the
make none except with the Senators, Suprem
Court judges and diplomates, and l think
| probable that other members of official life will
before long have TO take up the came rule and
| perhaps. the rule will have to be made eve
strcter than this, so that the only social dutie
of those who come under it's operation will be t
receive. They cannot be required to make visit
| much longer"
Mrs Carlisle is enthusiastic over the recer
ton given to Speaker Carlisle and herself i
Boston, and even the Bostonians themselye
will be surprised at her description of them
Nobody ever said such thing about them b,
FORE
1T was delightful" said she, as her fac
lighted up with pleasure at tho recollection. 81
really seemed as if they couldn't do enough fe
US. And l never met anywhere people NOR
cordial and more charming than the Bostonian
In many respects they remind me Of the South
erners more than the people of any other city.
FLORENCE FINCH KELLEY.